Evaluation of Technologies to the Brazilian Army from the Application of the AHP-TOPSIS-2N Method with Patent Analysis

Technology management entails enhancing technological capabilities to facilitate organizations in accomplishing their strategic objectives. In the realm of defense, where military capabilities and technology are increasingly interconnected, there is a search for models of technology management to identify and give priority to critical and emerging technologies that will integrate an Armed Force’s strategic planning. To this end, the article introduces a technology evaluation methodology that utilizes Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) combined with patent analysis. The utilized MCDA approach is known as AHPTOPSIS-2N, a hybrid method that capitalizes on the advantages of two widely recognized methods - the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preferences by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) - in conjunction with two distinct normalization techniques. By utilizing this approach, it became feasible to rank essential technologies that are relevant to the Brazilian Army, intended for implementation in medium-term technological advancement initiatives (spanning from 2024 to 2031).